Boy did I pick a lousy week to go on vacation. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled my parents will finally be able to meet my 6-month-old daughter, but I'll be missing some good MIAA football.

I want to apologize for getting this up late. Preparing a small child for a vacation is no easy task, and as I complete what I started earlier this week from my hotel's business office in Allentown, Pa., I wish I would have planned a little better.

As far as my High 5 goes, nothing has changed from last week, so I didn't find it necessary to post a new one this week.

Enough excuses and apologies, let's get down to business.

First off, we have No. 6 Washburn headed to No. 7 Northwest Missouri. In case you forget, even as Northwest has dominated the league the last five years, Washburn has always found a way to play the Bearcats tough, falling short in overtime two years ago in Maryville and failing a two-point conversion to lose by one last year in Topeka.

These teams have played each other seven times the last six years, with the combined point differential coming to just 29 points. To put that in perspective, Northwest Missouri has won 30 games by more than that in that timespan.

There have been some big games between the two, but with Washburn riding their highest-ever national ranking and Northwest Missouri trying to stay in the playoff chase, this game might be the biggest yet.

But alas, my MIAA brethren, Showdown Saturday has so much more to offer than a Bearcat-Bod matchup. Let us now move on to Warrensburg, where 20th-ranked Central Missouri hosts 4th-ranked Pittsburg State. Already with two losses under their best, Central Missouri simply can't afford a loss here, while Pitt looks to continue their somewhat-improbable run to the top of the conference.

And if you thought these four teams are the only ones with something to prove on Saturday, you're sorely mistaken my friend. We've got Southwest Baptist starting a four-game MIAA stretch to end the season against future conference opponents. They'll be back in the MIAA next year after a four-year break, and sitting at 6-1, are probably feeling pretty good about themselves. But the true test comes in these coming weeks as the Bearcats play at Southern this week on MIAA TV, vs Western and Emporia, and at Truman.

It's not exactly the toughest four-game stretch you could have against all MIAA squads, but it should be a good barometer of where SBU will stand when they join the other newcomers in this league next year.

Baptist isn't the only future conference member trying to prove their worth this week. Central Oklahoma, who came out on the opposite end of an Ichabod beatdown last week in Topeka, welcome Fort Hays. Central has seen little success this year as an Independent, but faces Hays and two other future MIAA members (Northeastern State & Lindenwood) before the season ends.

Moving on, we have Missouri Western, who hosts Truman and like UCM needs to keep winning in order to have any shot at the playoffs. The Griffons are in their fourth of five consecutive "should-win" games and have taken care of business thus far.

And finally this week, we have Emporia State heading to Lincoln. I'm not really sure what these teams have to prove, besides maybe Lincoln trying to show they can at least play with the other cellar dwellers in the conference - they hung with Fort Hays, only losing 24-21, but have lost their other five conference games by an average of nearly 55 points a game.

Wow, honestly, I just wasted way too much time talking about things that don't matter. Those other games are nice, and I'm not trying to talk down to any teams or their fans, but this week is really just about two games.

Let's get into the games taking place on this glorious Showdown Saturday.

No. 6 Washburn (7-0, 6-0) at No. 7 Northwest Missouri (6-1, 5-1)Saturday, Oct. 22; 2 p.m.
Bearcat Stadium; Maryville, MO

I'd like to say this game is for all the marbles, but thanks to the schedule gods (who I must say have been pretty crappy to us in other weeks), this is arguably not even the biggest game in the conference this week.

There IS though DEFINITELY a whole lot riding on this game. More so for the Bearcats, who would drop to a place they surely don't want to be with two losses at this point in the season. But Washburn needs this game too, to keep pace with Pittsburg atop the MIAA.

Does anyone really see an edge here, because I'm having a hard time seeing it. I guess Bearcat Stadium is an automatic advantage, so Northwest has that going for them, but otherwise, this is a downright powerhouse versus powerhouse with no obvious front runner.

Washburn's "we don't feel like playing four full quarters" attitude seems to have passed, and if Bearcat starter Blake Christopher can't go once again, it looks like backup Trevor Adams has bounced back from an unimpressive performance against UCM a few weeks back. Those were 2 major concerns for me earlier this year, but no longer.

So where do we look next? Let's stick with the passing game. Dane Simoneau is absolutely on fire, moving into fourth place last week on the all-time MIAA passing list. But Adams isn't so shabby himself, and I have to wonder even if Christopher can go, will he coming off only one game played out of the last five? So maybe it's an obvious advantage-Washburn in the quarterback category, but while Washburn's certainly got a nice little group of receivers, Northwest has a more dynamic crew of guys catching balls, so the passing game is a wash.

Defensively, Washburn has the edge numbers-wise in every category, but not by much. Luckily for the Bearcats, this game won't be played inside a calculator.

Northwest's defense looked certainly capable a few weeks ago against Central and was superb in the first half against Pitt State, but one things about Washburn those teams can't brag about is the Bods have great running AND passing games.

If Simoneau can play up to his potential, avoiding early mistakes that nearly cost his team earlier this year, and Justin Cooper and Sean McPherson can keep running like they have been, there's just not anything the Bearcats can throw at them to stop them.

It all starts with the defensive line, which hasn't put a whole lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks - The Bearcats are tied for an MIAA low of only 10 sacks on the season, and it's not likely to get a whole lot better, because Washburn has only given up 10 sacks.

But any football fan can tell you, you don't have to get the quarterback on the ground to get in his mind, and that's what Northwest did against Central, putting pressure on Tommy Corwin and forcing him into some throws he didn't want to make. Corwin still threw for 360 yards that week, but overall the damage was limited.

When Northwest has the ball, there's just so much you have to watch out for. Even if Christopher and/or phenom WR Jake Soy can't go, the weapons on Northwest's offense, like they have been for years, are plentiful.

Luckily for Washburn, their defense is good. Real good. They've kind of quietly become a top three defense in the MIAA and have what it takes to limit the big plays from Northwest.

Alright, I've been rambling quite a bit now, and still, have yet to find a definitive edge.

They've burned me the few times I've done it in the past, but I think this is a week I pick against Northwest. I love what Dane Simoneau is doing, and as I mentioned above, the 'Bods seem to be over their slow start.

If they can start fast, I think they'll outlast the Bearcats. BUT, and I'm talking J-Lo-size BUT, if Jake Soy can go, and he is as productive as we all know he can be, it will be a whole new ball game.

Prediction: Washburn 38 Northwest Missouri 34

No. 4 Pittsburg State (7-0, 6-0) at No. 20 Central Missouri (5-2, 4-2)Saturday, Oct. 22; 1:30 p.m.
Walton Stadium; Warrensburg, MO

This game is going to be fun. The league's best rushing game against its top passer and arguably the best receiver.

These next two games will be make it or break it for Zac Dickey, who made it in his first big test of the season at Arrowhead. This week against Central, he faces an overall less-threatening defense, but in UCM cornerback Marlon Douglas, goes up against a guy who will change an entire game at the slightest hint of a mistake by Dickey.

I'm not going to waste too much time on this. I like Pitt State in this game. Central has plenty of upside, and even their running backs have started to play a bit better (still without putting up any mindblowing numbers), but the combination of Pitt's blossoming offense and a defense that down right gets at you, I think the Gorillas have a definite advantage.

But I'm telling you. Douglas can change that. Watch out for him Zac Dickey and if he hurts you, we could be seeing Pitt with their first loss.

I think Dickey will pass the test and get his team the victory, but I have a feeling it's going to be through more running than passing. And maybe I'm coming to learn that that's okay. Maybe Dickey can take his team to the promised land running his option and piling up 100-yard rushing games. Having a guy like Briceton Wilson as your option is certainly nice.

Look for LOTS of rushing yards for Pitt against a bottom-tiered MIAA rush defense and for Corwin to be playing from behind (something UCM is used to, but I don't think they'll come through this week).

Prediction: Pittsburg State 33 Central Missouri 24

Southwest Baptist (6-1, IND) at Missouri Southern (2-4, 2-4)Saturday, Oct. 22; 2:05 p.m.
Lewis Field; Joplin, MO
MIAA TV

Southwest Baptist's successes are garnering some recognition. Thirty-six points in the AFCA coaches poll was good enough to put them three spots out of the Top 25. That's almost as much as Central Missouri (unranked with 40 points) and more than teams like West Alabama (20) Hillsdale (5) and Missouri Western (1).

That's all fine and dandy, and I'm glad they're doing well, but really? Come on. Who have they played? I get there's a lot of that in Division II as not many teams can boast a week-in-week-out menacing schedule and independents have it particularly tough as they play a lot of each other, and none of them are exactly top-level programs, but is anyone else thinking these Bearcats MIGHT be a little overrated?

We'll see this weekend on MIAA TV when they match up with their second conference team in Joplin.

Looking over SBU, they seem to be awfully balanced. Quarterback Dan Connors runs almost as much as he passes, but completes nearly 66 percent of his passes and has only tossed four interceptions.

Connors (90 & 284) trails only running back Theaddeu Everson in rushes (92) and yards (443), Tiras Harris has tacked on another 73 attempts on the season.

Again, we'll know a lot more about SBU in coming weeks, but for now, even though they come in hot and have already beaten an MIAA foe, I gotta stick with Southern.

Prediction: Missouri Southern 28 Southwest Baptist 23

Truman State (2-5, 1-5) at Missouri Western (5-2, 4-2)Saturday, Oct. 22; 1:30 p.m.
Spratt Stadium; St. Joseph, MO

I should have known better than to pick Truman last week on the road. And I probably should have known better than to pick against Missouri Western.

I'm not going to make that mistake again.

If Travis Partridge can build off his performance, especially early, in last week's win over Emporia, things could get interesting for the Griffons.

I think he takes another step towards that goal and lifts Western to a convincing win Saturday.

Prediction: Missouri Western 42 Truman State 20

Fort Hays State (2-5, 2-4) at Central Oklahoma (1-6, IND)
Saturday, Oct. 22; 2 p.m.
Wantland Stadium; Edmund, OK

Talk about a couple teams struggling. Since Hays opened the season with a nice little win over Emporia, their only triump has been over Lincoln, but just by 3 points. I'm gonna throw that in the L column too.

Central Oklahoma, a playoff team just a few years ago, seems to be heading in the wrong direction as they prepare to enter the MIAA next year. They got walloped at Washburn last week, but should be able to play with Hays.

In fact, I think with UCO's pass-heavy offense going up against Hays' second-to-worst MIAA defense against the air game, QB Ethan Sharp and company get their first taste of MIAA blood a little early.

Prediction: Central Oklahoma 24 Fort Hays 21

Emporia State (2-5, 1-5) at Lincoln (1-6, 0-6)
Saturday, Oct. 22; 2 p.m.
Dwight T. Reed Stadium; Jefferson City, MO

Come on Emporia. Don't let me down here. The Hornets have played well in a couple games they could have won this year, but woulda-shoulda-coulda doesn't really matter.

What does matter is these are the kinds of games that Emporia needs to win, and handily.

For Lincoln, we have to be wondering if that Hays game a few weeks back was a simple fluke or maybe they really can stay in a ballgame here or there.

I think we'd all like to see Lincoln get a little more consistently competitive, but I'm just not sure if I see it happening yet.

Prediction: Emporia State 48 Lincoln 17

Other notes: As I said, I'm finishing this blog from Allentown, Pa., and will get the chance to visit East Stroudsburg on Saturday.

While the matchup between 2-5 Millersville and 1-6 East Stroudsburg frankly isn't all that apealing, I am excited for a few reasons.

It's Division II football. I'm good with that, no matter where or who it is.

Second, ESU coach Denny Douds on Saturday will break the D2 record for most games ever coached, passing the previous mark of 393 set by longtime Minnesota Duluth coach Jim Malosky (1958-97).

Not only will I get to see a bit of history, I'll also get to see one of D2's hottest quarterbacks. ESU gunslinger Ray Wagner has thrown for more than 500 yards in consecutive games and leads the country in passing yards (2667).

So while I'll surely be missing a great Saturday of MIAA football, I'll get to enjoy a historic day in the Poconos region of eastern Pennsylvania.

Agree with what I have to say? Disagree? Good. Now tell me why. Post a response to this blog, e-mail me at [email protected], @ me on Twitter @miAARONd2 or message me at Facebook.com/apheintz.